Vangelis, Opera Sauvage
Polydor, 1979
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Opera Sauvage is a classic release from Vangelis. After 22 years it still
holds up as essential.
The disc has symphonic and operatic structure and it precedes Vangelis' use
of orchestras in his productions. But this album does not cross the line.
In his inimitable fashion, Vangelis created a new age/e-music hybrid, perhaps
the original.
The atmospheres are dense and pastoral. The sequences are dense and bold.
The melodies are calm and pleasant. Those are the expected and desired
qualities of a Vangelis CD. This classic meets those and more!
- Jim Brenholts
EER-MUSIC.com Editor's note: This is my fav Vangelis release after Antarctica.
Vangelis, Blade Runner
Atlantic, 1994
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Blade Runneris the Vangelis soundtrack for the film of the same name. the
film is a sci-fi adventure. The soundtrack is also a sci-fi adventure.
Film music seems to attract electronicians. Four of the major players in the
e-music community - Michael Stearns, Kevin Keller, Tangerine Dream and
Vangelis - have done extensive work in that genre. Kevin and Michael work
on more obscure films. TD and Vangelis have scored some major motion
pictures. This is one of the major films.
And it is a very cool musical statement. Vangelis uses voice samples from
the film to augment and emphasize his dense sequences, spatial atmospheres
and dramatic sound design. Entering a Vangelis soundworld is always an
adventure. It is more fun when the soundworld is an overt adventure.
The structure of a soundtrack is, by default, symphonic. That makes sense.
Literature tells stories with words. Paintings tell stories with pictures.
Symphonies tell stories with musical pictures. Motion pictures use all three
media. The soundtrack is an integral part of the scheme. An expert
soundtrack composer can make the difference between a bad film and a good
film or between a good film and a great film.
This is not a great film. It is a great soundtrack. Vangelis used many
influences from classical to jazz to pop to paint the soundscape and evoke
the imagery.
All that being said, Vangelis' soundtracks, like TD's, are interesting. They
are essential only to die hard fans and completists. - Jim Brenholts
EER-MUSIC.com Editor's note: Blade Runner, the flik was based on P. K. Dick's novel,
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. If you dug the flik then by all means,
read some Dick. (I have nearly ALL PKDICK has ever written!)